Miter box



11 W21 1,517,108 w. H. DRAKE MITER 3011 Filed Dec. 2, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

1921. 1 1,517,108 W. H. DRAKE MITER BOX Filed Dc. 2, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I m le 2 W R 77 101 z/ 14 1M ATTORNEY. 5

W. H. DRAKE MITER BOX 3 Sheets$heet 3 ATTORNEY) Filed Dec. 2, 1922 WILLIAM HENRY DRAKE, OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

MI'IER BOX.

Appflication filed December 2, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. DRAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Miter lBoXes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that type of devices used in carpentry for sawing operations, and generally known as miter-boxes.

An important object of the invention is to greatly simplify construction, add to the convenience and ease of construction and operation and otherwise promote the utility of the device.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference designate like or corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device with the guide posts removed;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a Vertical transverse section of the same, taken on. the line 3-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the device;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the device, parts being broken away;

Figure 7 is abottom plan view, parts being broken away;

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal central sectional view through the saw carriage and guide posts;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of one of the guide posts, parts being shown in section;

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the same;

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough taken on the line 1111 of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of one of the leg members; and

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of the arcuate miter-guide.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 2 des- Serial No. 604,586.

ignates the frame of a table or other support having an arcuate miter-guide 2 preferably integrally formed therewith. The cover 1 of the table has a substantially V-shaped opening 1% therein and arranged over the miter--- guide so as to leave said miter-guide uncovered. The miter-guide has its upper surface provided with two series of equally spaced or scored off radial lines, marked or designated by suitable figures or legends, as indicated, for providing for different cuts and angles.

The enlarged portion 3 of the forward portion of the frame 2 is provided with an opening 3 adapted to receive the pivot pin 6 of the saw carriage 4. The pivot 6 is preferably tapered at its lower extremity as at 6*, and is provided with the annular groove or notched portion 6 arranged adjacent the tapered portion 6 to provide for the effective engagement of a latch member 7 for the retention of said pivot against accidental displacement. The latch 7 is held into engagementwith the pivot 6 by means of a coiledspring 8, and a rod or actuating handle 9 is connected with the latch 7 to remove said latch from engagement with the pivot pin, against the tension of the spring 8, which will return the latch to its former position as soon as the rod 9 is released.

The table 2 is provided with suitable legs 10 which have their lower ends bent at right angles to form feet 10 which have openings 10 for attachment to the floor or other support, for steadying the table. These legs are rigidly mounted on the bolt-like rods 11 by means of the nuts 11 and wing nuts 11, and the end portions of the bolt-like rods are flattened at 11, and adapted to be re ceived in longitudinal slots 12 in the framework of the table, said slots ending in circular terminals 12 of a size to permit the ready rotation of the rods 11. The rods or bolts 11 are held under the tension of coil springs 13 which are connected to the frame work of the table. In the initial or folded position the legs are arranged longitudinally with respect to the table, and the bolt-like members 11 will be drawn up into the slots 12, due to the tension of the springs 13. When the legs are to, be extended for sup porting the table, they, are bodily grasped and slid along the slots 12 toward the outer ends of the table, against the tension of the springs 13, and when the bolt-like members have reached the circular terminals 12", the

tension of the springs will automatically turn the bolt-like members so as to present the flattened portions 11 of the bolts or rods 11 to the slots 12, which are too narrow to receive them, and the legs will then be positioned vertically to support the table, and locked in this position by the tension of the springs 13.

The saw carriage 4 is provided with an opening 14 through which the radial lines and their indicia inlay be viewed, and a thumb-piece 15 is carried by the carriage to facilitate turning it about its pivot. Depending from the carriage and preferably formed integrally therewith, is a housing 15 in which is pivotally mounted the lever 16, which carries the spring cushioned plunger 17 which is adapted to engage the notches 4 on the lower surface of the miterguide. These notches 4 represent the standard cuts such as 90, or 45 degrees.

The arcuate portion of the miter-guide frame is stepped as at 4 on its lower por tion, this stepped portion being adapted to be trictionally engaged by a second plunger 18 which is carried by the housing 16 and which is also spring pressed. The housing 16 is also provided with an extension having a notch 18 therein which is adapted to be engaged by the cranked terminal or finger piece 18 of the plunger 18 to hold said plunger away from the miter-guide, against the tension-of its spring. The lever 16 is provided with a post 16 to correspond with a similar post 16 carried by the underside of the carriage a. A coiled spring 16 r is adapted to be arranged around these posts to force the lever 16 downwardly. The weight of the lever 16 and the plunger 17 would ordinarily be suificient to cause the lever .to pivot downwardly, but the spring is an added precaution. The bail or locking device 18 is pivotally mounted upon the carriage 4 and 'is tensioned by a suitable spring.

This bail is adapted to engage under the lever 16 to hold the lever in its uppermost position, and is held there against the tension of the spring by means of the weight of the lever and the force of the spring 16*.

It will be seen that as the lever 16 swings downwardly, the inner end of the. plunger 17 will be forced upwardly into the notch 4.? and held there by the weight of the lever and strength of the spring 16. lVhen it is wished to position the plunger ,in another notch, the plunger is pulled out against the tension of the spring 17 and the carriage swung around to the notch, and when the plunger is released it will enter the notch and lock the carriage in this position due to the action of the spring 17. hen it is de-' sired to position the carriage intermediate the standard angles of the notches, the lever 16 is swung upwardly and locked by the bail 18 so as to place the plunger 17 in its inoperative position, and the carriage will then be free to swing about its pivot. Vl hcn the desired position is reached, the plungcr 18 is released from; the notch 18, and will be projected against the stepped portion of the miter-guide, and will frictionally engage said stepped portion. and retain the carriage in this position.

The saw carriage is provided with a longitudinal shallow saw-tooth receiving channel 19 and is provided with tapered projections 2* formed integrally therewith and substantially centrally thereof and adapted to be received within correspomling rcccsscs or sockets 23 formed in the table cover 1, to strengthen the parts at the end of each swing of the carriage. Split saw guiding sleeves 21 are received in openings 20 at the terminals of the saw carriage and are provided with keys 22 to lit in keyways 25 to prevent turning of the sleeves with respect to the carriage. Shoulders 2.1 are torulcd on the sleeves to rest upon the top surface of the carriage and support the sleeves thoroon.

The sleeves are adapted to rcceivc split saw guiding posts 26 which are provided with studs 27 which engage in the verti -all v arranged slots 28. Each of these slots is oilset at its upper end and is n'ovidcd with :1 notch 28 having its lower edge slanted downwardly for a purpose hereinafter described. The saw guide posts 26 are each provided with a chambered top portion 26 which is provided with a bearing roller 27" adapted to lessen frictional contact with the top edge of the saw.

The sleeves 21 are also prctcrably provided with adjustable stops 7 which have their upper ends bent at right angles at 2 and curved to lit the contour of the guide post. These stops are regulated by a set screw 28 and washers 28" my be provided to limit the downward movement of the stops. These stops are shown in their inoperative position but may be turned to [it around the guide posts and engage under the shoulders of the chambered top portions of the guide posts 26.

In operation, the guide posts are raised until the studs 27 engage in the notches 28, which will support the posts 26 in their raised position. The saw is then positioned in the guide posts and a blow dclivercd to the top or the guide posts which will force the pin or stud 27 out of the notch, by means of the slanted wall of said notch, and thus rotate the guide post with relation to the sleeve for a slight distance, and the posts will then be free to slide downwardly and lower the saw to the work, during which operation they will be rotated a slight distance back to their original position by means of the olisct in the slot. It will be noted that the slot 28 in the sleeve is subtill stantially wider than that in the guide post, and consequently wider than the saw, as the slot 28 must receive not only the saw but the stud also. This difference in width of the slots allows for a slight rotation of the posts in order to free the pin from the notch (see Figure 10).

The legs 10 are formed with the rear legs longer than the front ones, and projecting a substantial distance above the table 2 so as to afford a stop for the work applied to the table; and if desired, a back member may be positioned on the table so as to rest against these rear legs.

The saw guides or standards 21, it will be observed, are each flattened or made with a plane surface for the advantageous reception of the blow of the bumper or buffer at either end of the saw, the recoil action tak ing place at either end of the saw to prevent hea-vy thrusts or concussions of the handles against the machine.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A mitering device, including an arcuate support, a saw carriage pivotally mount ed upon said arcuate support adjacent one end thereof, and provided with openings at its terminals, an opening in said saw carriage adapted to disclose indicia on the arcuate support, said saw carriage also having lateral reinforcing enlargements substantially centrally thereof adapted to be received by recesses provided in the arcuate support, standards received by said carriage openings, and upper-end-chambered saw-receiving members.

2. A mitering device comprising a support having oppositely arranged longitudinal slots, legs for said support, and spring tensioned leg-connecting bolt-like members received by said slots, and having their ends flattened, the opposite terminals of each slot being circular to receive the flattened portions of said bolt-like members.

3. In a mitering device, an arcuate guide having a stepped edge and having notches at spaced distances, a saw carriage pivoted thereto, a lever pivotally mounted on the saw carriage, a plunger carried thereby and adapted to engage the notches in the arcuate guide, means to lock the lever in its up per and inoperative position whereby the plunger is disengaged from the notches, means allowing the disengagement of the plunger from the notches when the lever is in its lower and operative position, an auxiliary plunger carried by the carriage and adapted to frictionally engage the stepped edge of the arcuate guide, and means to retain the auxiliary plunger in its inoperative position.

4. In a n'iitering device, an arcuate guide having notches therein, a saw carriage pivoted thereto, a lever pivotally mounted on the saw carriage, a plunger carried by the lever and adapted to engage the notches in the arcuate guide, means to allow the disengagement of the plunger from the notches when the lever is in its lower position, and means to lock the lever in its upper and inoperative position whereby the plunger will be re moved from the notches in the guide and the carriage will be allowed to move freely about its pivot.

5. In a mitering device, a saw carriage, a vertically arranged sleeve carried thereby and having a vertical slot, said slot being olfset at its upper end and having a notch at said offset portion and a saw guiding post arranged in said sleeve and having a pin adapted to engage in said slot whereby when the post is in its raised position the pin may engage in the notch and sustain the post in such position, but when a blow is delivered to said post the pin will be dislodged from the notch and allow the post to assume its lowermost position.

6. In a mitering device, a saw carriage, a vertically arranged sleeve carried thereby and having a vertical slot, said slot being offset at its upper portion and having a notch at said ofiset portion, said notch having an inclined wall, and a guiding post slidably arranged in said sleeve and having a pin adapted to engage in said slot, whereby when the post is in its raised position, the pin may engage the notch and maintain the post in such position, but when a blow is delivered to the post, said post will be rotated, due to the cam action of the inclined wall of the notch on the pin, and the pin will be dislodged from the notch and allow the post to assume its lowered position.

7 In a mitering device, an arcuate guide, a saw carriage pivoted thereto, and having openings in its ends, a plunger carried by the carriage to engage the arcuate guide, sleeves arranged in the openings in the saw carriage and keyed thereto, said sleeves having slots therein, said slots being ollset at their upper portions and having notches in said ofiset portions, and saw carrying and guiding posts slidably arranged in the sleeves, and having pins adapted to engage in the slots, whereby when the posts are ar ranged in their upper position the pins may engage the notches and hold the posts in such position, but when a blow is delivered to the posts, the pins will be dislodged from the notches and the posts will be allowed to assume their lowered position, and thereby adjust the saw to its final position.

8. In a mitering device, a saw carriage, a

vertically arranged sleeve carried thereby and having a Vertical slot, and a saw guiding post arranged in said sleeve and having a pin adapted to engage in said slot, and means for engaging the pin whereby When the post is in its raised position, the pin may be engaged to sustain the post in such posit-ion, hut When a blow is delivered to said post the pin will he released from the engaging means and allow the post to assume 10 its lowermost position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

YVILLIAM HENRY DRAKE. 

